Patients at risk – SDHB

Budget cuts, service cuts, staff issues – all leading to “concerns for patient safety” at Queenstown’s Lakes District Hospital.

That’s the grim prescription for Wakatipu healthcare and it comes from the very top of Southland District Health Board – big boss Brian Rousseau.

His stark warning comes in official papers for today’s SDHB board meeting.

As Mountain Scene revealed on July 30, SDHB is being heavied by the Ministry of Health to balance its budget.
Despite setting up a cost-cutting team, Rousseau is still forecasting a loss of $5.4 million for SDHB’s 2010-11 financial year – and the MoH is demanding more cuts, he advises board members.

“[But a] reconfiguration of services would be required to achieve further savings,” Rousseau warns SDHB.
He then notes “concerns for patient safety as a result of staffing issues in the more remote rural areas”.